Kail way block signal look and register



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model) J. DEA N. RAILWAY BLOCK SIGNAL LOCK AND REGISTER.

Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. DEAN, I RAILWAY BLOCK SIGNAL LOOK AND REGISTER.

No. 537,757. 44 Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

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(No Model.)

7.1mm. RAILWAY BLOGK SIGNAL LOOK AND REGISTER.

Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNiTED-STATEs PATENT FFICE.

JOHN DEAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,757, dated April 16, 1895.

Application filed October 26. 1894.

' details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate correspondingparts in all the views.

Figure l is a front elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the 1mprovement. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional front elevation of the improvement, on the line 33 of Fig. 4. Fig. A is a transverse section of the same, on the line 4-4. of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the lock bar. Fig. 6 is a sectional front view of one of the contact devices, the section being taken on the line o6 in Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a like view of one of the other contact devices.

The improved block signal lock and register is provided with a suitably constructed casing A, in the lower part of which is journaled a transversely extending shaft B projecting through the front of the casing, to carry at its outer end a handle 0 adapted to be taken hold by the operator,forturning the shaft B, as hereinafter more fully described.

The handle 0 is formed with a pointer 0 adapted to indicate on an opening A in the front of the casing, or on points A and A placed about one-third of an entire revolution of the pointer C from each other, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1.

Through the opening A in the front of the casing A, are successively visiblethe targets D, D and D formed on the front face of a disk D secured on the shaft 13, directly in the rear of the front of the casing A, as is plainlyillustrated in Fig. 4. The opening A is preferably covered by glass, and the targets D, D and D are preferably colored red,

Serial No. 527,003. (No model.)

white and blue respectively, for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

On the shaft B within the casing A are arranged three contacting disks E, E and E insulated one from the other and from the shaft B, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. The contacting disks E, E and E are adapted to be engaged by the sets of contacting plates F, F and F respectively,of which the set of contacting plates F is connected by wires with alocal lock G,hereinafter more fully described in detail. The other set of plates F is connected by a circuit 1-1 with the plates F of the next station below, the said circuit also containing a lock relay I and the armature of a track relay J, both of which are arranged in locked closets, so as not to be accessible to the operator in charge of the signal station in which the casing A is located. The third set of contact plates F connects by a circuit with the plates F, lock relay I, and armature of track relay J, of the next station beyond the signal station in question.

Each of the contacting disks E, E and E is provided with a body part E made of rubber or other insulating material, and the disk E is provided in its periphery with a contacting plate E", and insulated plates E are arranged in the other disks E and E A cutout portion E is formed in the periphery of the body E of each disk, and the several cutout portions are in alignment so that the sets of contact plates F, F and F are simultaneously free at the time the said cut-out portions E are opposite the free ends of the said contact plates F, F and F The contact plates E? and E and the cnt-out portions E are arranged relative to the colored targets D, D and D in such a manner that when the contact plates F, are in engagement with their contact plate E, then the whitetarget D is displayed in the opening A, and when the cut-out portions E stand opposite the said sets of contact plates F, F and F then the red target D is displayed, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3; and when the other contact plate E is in engagement simultaneously with the contact plates F and F then the blue target is visible through the opening A. y

The local lock G is provided with electroinagnets G and an armature lever G fulcrumedat G within the casing A, and on the lower free end of the said armature. lever G is formed a projection G4 adapted to engage the shoulders K and K of a lock bar K, mounted to slide vertically in the casingA and projecting through the bottom thereof, to connect with the locking pin or rod for the signal lever in the signal tower. WVhen this look bar is in a lowermost position, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, then the signal cannot be pulled clear by the operator in charge of the signal lever, but when the lock bar is in an uppermost position, then it permits the signal man to pull the signal clear. The casing A is usually located directly over the signal lever in the station to permit the operator in charge to readily manipulate the signal lever and the handle 0 as hereinafter more fully described.

The lock bar K is provided on one side with teeth K adapted to be engaged by teeth L, formed on the'periphery of a wheel L secured on the shaft B. This wheel L is also provided on its front face with a stop pin L adapted to be engaged by a projection K, secured on the lock bar K for the purpose hereinafter more fully described. On the back of the wheel L is secured a ratchet wheel L adapted to be engaged by a pawl L pivoted on a fixed part in the casing A, so as to prevent a return movement of the shaft B. A ratchet wheel N is also secured on the shaft B, and is engaged by a spring arm N fixed to the casing, the said ratchet Wheel N being provided with but three teeth placed an equal distance apart, so as to permit of turniugthe shaft B, one-third revolution at a time, and prevent a return movement.

On the shaft B is secured an arm 0 adapted to engage a tooth P of a wheel P, at every revolution of the shaft B, so that the wheel P is turned the distance between two teeth on each revolution of the wheel. This wheel P forms part of the registering mechanism and is provided on its front face with consecutive numerals running from 1 to 99, as illustrated in Fig. 3, one numeral being for each tooth B. One of the numerals P is visible through an opening A in the front of the casing A, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to register trains passing over the section.

On the wheel P is formed a ratchet wheel P engaged by a pawl P fulcrumed on a partition in the casing'A, and on the said wheel is also secured an arm P adapted to engage and turn a ratchet wheel Q secured on a shaft Q journaled in the casing A, and carrying a hundreds wheel Q formed on its face with numerals from 1 to 10 in consecutive order; each hundred indicating one hundred revolutions. Now it will be seen that when the wheel P makesoue complete revolution, the arm P turns the ratchet wheel Q such distance as to bring the next consecutive numeral of the wheel Q into the opening A in the front of the casing A to register the corresponding train in conjunction with the numeral P of the wheel P. Thus if the numeral 74 appears in the opening A and a numeral 3 in the opening A, it indicates that the three hundred and seventy-fourth train has passed over the section on which the device is located.

In order to prevent a return movement of the wheel P, I provide an additional spring catch P engaging the teeth P, as shown in Fig. 3. In order to lock the wheel D in position, I provide its rim with notches D adapted to be engaged by a spring catch D having a button D extending through the slot in the front of the casing A, so as to be under the control of the operator, it being understood that the operator has to pull the button D to the left, see Fig. 1, before he can turn the handle 0 in the direction of the arrow a.

On the armature lever G is arranged a spring contact plate Gr adapted to engage a contact point G whenever the said armature is attracted by the electro magnet G. This contact G is connected by a wire with the electro magnet of a lock bell G arranged within the casing A, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the other wire of the electro magnet being connected with a contact point G engaging an arm G projecting from the armature lever G, at or near its fulcrum, as is plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In order to make the wire connections of the several electrical devices, I connect the wire H of the receiving circuit H with one of the electro magnets of the lock relay I, the armature l of which is connected by a wire I with the battery 1 and with one of the electro magnets G. The other electro magnet of this local lock G is connected by a wire I with a contact point 1 for the armature lever 1, whenever the latter is attracted by the magnets of the lock relay I. The track relay J has its armature lever J connected by a wire J with the other magnet of the lock relay I, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2, and the armature lever J is adapted to make contact with a contact point I", connected by a wire 1 with a battery 1 and the wire I previously described.

The armature lever J is provided with a spring arm J adapted to connect with a contact point J whenever the said lever is released from the electro magnets of the track relay J. This contact point J is connected by a Wire J with one of the contact plates of the set of contact plates F, the other plate of this set being connected by awire I with the wire 1 leading to the electro magnets of the local lock G. The armature lever J, normally connects with a contact point J connected by a wire J with one of the set ofcontact plates F, the other plate of which is connected with the wire H forming one of the wires of the receiving circuit H. The electro magnets of the track relay Jare connected by the wires J and J with the rails of the track section B, over which the trains pass, it being understood that the rails of this track sec- ICC tion are supplied with a current from a battery tro magnets as long as the section R is clear,

but as soon as the trains pass onto this section, the current is short circuited by the wheels and aXle of the train, so that the armature lever J is disconnected from the electromagnets, breaks the contact at J, and makes contact at J and I It will be understood that the Wires H and H of section R are connected with the wires H and H respectively of the section R, and similarly, the wires 11 and H of the section R are connected with the wires H and H of the section R The operation is asfollows: When the sev eral parts are in the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, then the contact plates F, F and F stand opposite the cut-out portion E, and the lock bar K is in a lowermost position indicating that the signal lever is locked and the signal for section R is in danger position. The lock bar K is now locked in place by the projection G of the armature lever G engaging the upper shoulder K, and the red target is displayed inthe opening A, and the pointer C of the handle 0, points to the opening A. Now, when the operator in charge of the signal station for the track section R, desires it to be unlocked, as a train is approaching the section R, he gives the handle Conethird of a turn by moving the pointer O to the point A on the front face of the casing A, and notifies by means of an electric call bell, or other means, the operator in charge of section R that he desires the section R to be un locked. The operator on section R then likewise gives the handle 0 of his apparatus onethird of a turn by moving the pointer O to the point A on the front face of the casing A. In doing so, the operator turns the shaft B and brings the blue target D into the opening A. The disks E, E, E turn with the shaft B, and

the contact plates F and 13 make connection at the contact plates E of the disks F and F while the contact plates F rest on the insulated portion of the disk E. It will be understood that the same position of parts has been produced at the station of section R, as the operator thereat has turned pointer G to point A as described. As soon as the contact plates F of section R pass onto their plate E on the disk E the circuit H is closed and the current passing through the wire H of section R to the wire H of section R, and then to the relay I of this section, the wire J armature J, wire J contact plates F, wire 1-1 and back to wire H of section R. The relay magnet I being energized, attracts the armature I and thus closes the-circuit for the battery I and the current from this battery passing to the electro-magnets G of the apparatus on station R, causes the armature to unlock the lock bar there, to permit the operator in charge of the station for section R, to unlock the signal lever of that section. The other set of plates F in making contact on their disk E,complete that part of the circuitH for the local lock of the section R which is in the said section by connecting the wires H and J by turning the pointer G of his apparatus to point A to permit the operator of the station for the section R to send a current to the local lock by the circuit H, whenever requested to do so by the operator in charge of the apparatus for section R. The operator of section R, now waits until he receives a second signal from the operator in charge of section R that the train has passed. onto the section R, and the operator in charge of section R, now by a special telegraph, or other means, asks the operator of section R to unlock him, which the operator of section R does, by turning the handle 0 from the opening A to A of his apparatus, to send a current through the circuit H to the lock relay I of the section R. This unlocking is necessary to enable the operator in charge of station R to unlock the signal lever to permit of changing the signal from the dangerto the 'open position, that is, to open the section R for the train coming along section R, and allow it to pass onto the section R. It will be seen that when the current in the circuit H passes through the electromagnets of the IOO relay I, the armature lever I is attracted and the local lock circuit is closed, so that the electro-magnets G attract the armature lever G whereby the lug G swings from the shoulder K, thus unlocking the lock bar K. As the shaft 13 has already been given one-third turn, the teeth L have been brought to the uppermost teeth K of the lock bar K, so that when the operator now turns the handle 0 to move the pointer 0 from A to A then the teeth L in mesh with the teeth K, lift the lock bar K so that the locking rod, connected with the said lock bar, is moved into an uppermost position to permit the operator in charge of the signal to pull the latter into the position indicating that thetrack is clear.

The electro-magnets G relieve the armature lever K, and the latter with its lug G engages the shoulder K to lock the bar K in an uppermost position. The white target D is now displayed in the opening A, and the two circuits H and H are cut out to leave the local back lock circuit in action. The train can now enter section R, and in doing so it releases the track relay J, by short circuiting the track railcircuit, as previously described, whereby the armature lever J makes contact with the points I and J as previously mentioned, so that the electro-magnets G are actuated by the current from battery I to again attract the armature lever G to move the lug G from under the shoulder K at the same time the circuit for the bell G is closed and the latter is sounded. The bar K now drops downward a short distance and the operator must now throw the signal lever to danger position and in doing so the rod connected with the bar K enters the lever plate and locks the lever in danger position. The bar'K is now in its lowermost position and is locked in this position by the armature G2 returning when the train leaves the section R and allows the track relay magnet J to attract the armature J and break the circuit of battery 1 It is understood that when the handle 0 is turned the first third of a revolution, and the blue target, instead of the red target, appears in the opening A, then the operator has unlocked the section B while his own section still remains locked so that it must be unlocked by the operator in charge of section B before the operator of section B, can move the handle to the next position. When the operator at section R sends the current through the circuit I-I, then the lock bell G7 sounds an alarm to indicate to the operator that the handle 0 is free to be turned, as the armature lever G has been attracted to unlock the lock bar K. The operator in turning the handle 0 to move the pointer G from A to A, cuts out the lock bell, so that the latter now stops ringing, and also frees the signal lever at the time the white target D appears in the opening A, in place of the blue target. When the train has passed the section R, the operator after the signal has been thrown to danger, turns the handle 0 to move the pointer C from A to the opening A, to again display the red target D, at the same time permitting the lock bar K to drop back to its normal position previous to turning the handle. As the latter has now made a complete revolution, the registering wheel P has been turned so as to display the next following numeral in the opening A. The above described operation is then repeated for the next following train,it being understood that the operator in charge of section B, has first to unlock section B, then has to ask the operator at section B to unlock section B and so on, so as to be in position to operate the handle 0 and permit the display of the proper signals for the train.

By the arrangement described, the operator is not liable to make a mistake in displaying the wrong signal, as he cannot turn the handle C to unlock his own section unless he follows the directions for the proper manipulation of the device.

When the shaftB is in such a position that the plates F are in contact with the plate E of the disk E, and a conducting obstruction, such as a rail or a telegraph wire attached to a pole, has been thrown or has fallen upon the track so as to touch both rails thereof, the bell G7 will be operated owing to the current from the battery being short circuited, as before tears? described, thus giving a warning to the operator.

It will be obvious that the operator cannot turn the handle as long as the track rail circuit is short circuited, and therefore if at any time a second train disregarding the signal enters any one of the sections while another train still is upon the same, the operator will be unable to turn the handle before the second train has left the section in question, and consequently only one of the trains will be registered at that station, thus throwing the blame upon the engineer of the second train.

It will be observed that the armature J whose movement is controlled by the track circuit (J J, J") forms a portion of the main lock circuit (H I, J J, J F, H and likewise of the local lock circuit (1 1 I G, I F, E J J, J); also that when the said armature closes the gap in the main lock circuit, it opens the gap in the local lock circuit, and that the movement of said armature or movable portion of the main and local lock circuits, is automatic upon the entrance of a train upon, or its departure from, the section to which the track circuit (F J, J") belongs.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A railway block signal lock, comprising a lock for the signal, a main lock circuit controlling said lock, and controlled from a distant point, a local lock circuit likewise con trolling the lock, the main lock circuit and the local lock circuit being provided with a movable portion, and a track circuit arranged in operative relation to the said movable part so that the latter will normally close the gap in the main lock circuit and enable the latter to be closed, and open the gap in the local lock circuit, the track circuit being also arranged in operative relation to passing trains, to cause such movement of the movable section of the lock circuits as to open the gap in the main lock circuit so that the latter cannot be closed, and close the gap in the local lock circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A railway block signal lock, comprising a lock for the signal, a main lock circuit controlling said lock and controlled from a distant point, a local lock circuit likewise controlling the lock, the main lock circuit and the local lock circuit being provided with a movable portion, and a track circuit including an electromagnet arranged in operative relation to the said movable part so as to cause said part to normally close the gap in the main lock circuit and enable the latter to be closed, and open the gap in the local lock circuit, the track circuit being also arranged to be short circuited by passing trains, to weaken the electro-magnet in the track circuit and allow the movable part to open the gap in the main lock circuit, so that the latter cannot be closed as long as the track circuit is short circuited, said movement of the movable part also closing the gap in the local lock circuit, substantially as described.

3. A railway block signal lock, comprising a lock bar for the signal lever and formed with shoulders and teeth, an electro-magnet having its armature lever provided with a lug adapted to engage the said shoulders to lock the lock bar in different positions, a shaft mounted to turn and under the control of the operator, and a toothed wheel held on the said shaft and adapted to engage the said lock bar teeth, substantially as shown and described.

4. A railway block signal lock, comprising a lock bar for the signal lever and formedwith shoulders and teeth, an electro-magnet having its armature lever provided with a lug adapted to engage the said shoulders to lock the lock bar in different positions, a shaft mounted to turn and under the control of the operator, a toothed wheel held on the said shaft and adapted to engage the said lock bar teeth, contact disks held on the said shaft and provided with contact plates, and stationary contact plates adapted to make connection with the said disks and adapted to close the circuit for the said electro-magnet which connects the armature lever, to disengage the lock bar, substantially as shown'and described.

5. A railway block signal lock, comprising a lock bar for the signal lever and formed with shoulders and teeth, an electro-magnet having its armature lever provided with a lug adapted to engage the said shoulders to lock the lock bar in different positions, a shaft mounted to turn and under the control of the operator, a toothed Wheel held on the said shaft and adapted to engage the said lock bar teeth, contact disks held on the said shaft and provided with contact plates, and stationary contact plates adapted to make connection with the said disks, and adapted to close the circuit for the said electro-magnet which connects the armature lever to disengage the lock bar, or to break the circuits for the said electro-magnet, substantially as shown and described. u

6. A railway block signal lock, comprising a look bar for the signal lever and formed with shoulders and teeth, an electro-magnet having itsarmature lever provided with a lug adapted to engage the said shoulders to lock the lock bar in different positions, a shaft mounted to turn and under the control of the contact plates adapted to make connection with the said disks and adapted to close the circuit for the said electro-magnet which con nects the armature lever, to disengage the lock bar or to break the circuits for the electro-magnets, and a lock relay and track relay having connections with the said contact plates for the disks, substantially as shown and described.

7. A railway block signal lock, comprising a lock bar for the signal lever and formed with shoulders and teeth, an electro-magnet having its armature lever provided with a lug adapted to engage the said shoulders to lock the lock bar in different positions, a shaft mounted to turn and under the control of the operator, a toothed wheel held on the said shaft and adapted to engage the said lock bar teeth, and a lock bell connected with the said armature lever, substantially as shown and described.

8. A railway block signal lock, comprising a lock bar for the signal lever, and provided with teeth, a shaft mounted to turn and under the control of the operator, a toothed wheel on the said shaft and adapted to engage the said teeth of the lock bar, and a disk held on the said shaft and turning with the same, the said disk being provided with targets for indicating the position of the mechanism during each revolution of the shaft, substantially as shown and described.

9. A railway block signal lock, comprising a lock bar for the signal lever, and provided with teeth, a shaft mounted to turn, and under the control of the operator, a toothed wheel on the said shaft and adapted to engage the said teeth of the lock bar, a disk held on the said shaft and turning with the same, the said disk being provided with targets for indicating the position of the mechanism during each revolution of the shaft, and registering mechanism, substantially as described, and operated from the said shaft to register the number of trains passing over the section,

as set forth.

JOHN DEAN.

Witnesses THEO. G. Homes, 0. SEDGWICK. 

